Chris Eubank jr v Conor Benn: Family feud to be settled almost 30 years later
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Chris Eubank jr v Conor Benn betting: A family feud
Boxing history will be made on October 8 when Chris Eubank jr and Conor Benn follow in their fathers’ footsteps in a continuation of a family feud at the O2 Arena.
The two British fighters will go head-to-head some 29 years after Chris Eubank sr and Nigel Benn slugged it out for a second time in their explosive WBC super-middleweight world title contest at Old Trafford.
The ‘Born Rivals’ showdown will be screened exclusively live by DAZN, with the fight set to be at a 157lb catchweight category.
Did you get a ticket? 👹🔥 pic.twitter.com/bBT7WmIbU4
— Conor Nigel Benn (@ConorNigel) August 15, 2022
Given both men have fought at varying weights, it seemed as if a third instalment of the family rivalry would never materialise.
Eubank jr has spent most of his career as an 11st 6lb middleweight contender in the 160lb division, although he had a brief spell at 168lb as a super-middleweight.
Benn, on the other hand, is a current 10st 7lb welterweight contender, so he will have to pile on 10lb just to make the weight.
While the contest will generate plenty of headlines given the history involved, Eubank Jr, 32, has no intentions of allowing himself to lose focus.
“This is a fantasy fight right here. This is a fight for the fans, a fight for history, a fight for legacy,” he said. “I’ve got to uphold my family name in this fight, 100 per cent, so there is a lot of pressure, but pressure is one thing I deal with exceptionally well so I am ready to go.”
Eubank jr is the 4/9 favourite in the boxing odds to win the fight against the unbeaten Benn, who is priced at 15/8.
Here, we look at the records of both men and the two bouts between their dads in the 1990s which set the boxing world alight.
Chris Eubank jr record
Eubank Jr has previously boxed at super-middleweight and weighed 160lbs when he beat Liam Williams on points in a one-sided contest during February, so before the fight takes place the 33-year-old will need to shed the pounds, something he claims “is going to be hell”.
He added: “The weight I will be coming in at, I haven’t fought at since I was 18, so there has to be changes. I don’t know how it’s going to affect my performance. I don’t know how I’m gonna feel on the night, but I love a challenge. I am never one to back down from adversity.”
33 years old today & ageing like fine wine if I do say so myself. Let’s just hope I’m not too old to beat Benn in 3 weeks 🥶 pic.twitter.com/i6iXGz8MZu
— Chris Eubank Jr (@ChrisEubankJr) September 18, 2022
‘Next Gen’ has won his last six fights, with his only defeats coming against Billy Joe Saunders eight years ago and George Groves in 2018 by split and unanimous decision respectively.
Although Eubank jr is dropping down to a career-low weight, he insists he has unfinished business with the middleweight division.
He said: “I want to be a part of history, to do something that’s never been done before, but that doesn’t mean I am not looking to the future. There are huge fights for me in the middleweight division. I want to win world titles, that is what we will be shooting for as soon as we take care of Conor Benn.”
Conor Benn record
Benn has won all 21 fights in his six years as a pro, his latest victory coming against Chris van Heerden in April.
The Destroyer had been expected to dispose of the experienced South African after producing some impressive performances over the last 18 months.
Eyes on the prize!
10 days!#EubankJrBenn pic.twitter.com/RU6xGwn6OW— Conor Nigel Benn (@ConorNigel) September 28, 2022
The 25-year-old welterweight duly delivered by taking out Van Heerden inside four minutes to extend his unblemished record.
Benn said: “This is what I do. I love it. They can put me in there with King Kong, I’m not really fazed. I’ll back it up every single time. I knew I was going to knock him out, it was just a matter of time.”
Whether the pair can bring the same intensity to the ring that their dads produced in the nineties, though, is another matter.
Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank first clashed at the NEC in Birmingham 32 years ago and here’s how it went.
Nigel Benn v Chris Eubank I
Benn had won his first 22 bouts by knockout but had to rebuild his career in the USA after losing his Commonwealth middleweight title to Michael Watson.
The Essex man knocked out Doug DeWitt to win the WBO belt and then destroyed Iran Barkley within a round in his first defence, so he went into the Eubank fight full of confidence.
In a spectacular fight which went one way and then the other, both men were about level heading into the eighth round when Eubank was caught by an overhead right which sent him down and although he claimed it was a slip, the Brighton man took the eight count.
Eubank was down again in the ninth but he caught Benn with a left-right combination and a left hook left his opponent reeling. A straight right sent Benn to the corner and the referee stepped in to end a flurry of punches with five seconds remaining.
Nigel Benn v Chris Eubank II
The rematch took place on October 9, 1993 in front of 42,000 fans at Old Trafford and was watched by half a billion people worldwide.
Billed as ‘Judgement Day’, Eubank’s WBO super-middleweight title and Benn’s WBC belt were on the line at the Theatre of Dreams where the fight lacked the brutality of the first.
Both men were told they needed to win the final round and what a thriller it was. With 30 seconds remaining, Eubank had his arms in the air thinking he had won again, but the judges scored it a draw.
A rematch was touted for Wembley as part of Eubank’s eight-fight deal with Sky, but it did not materialise and they never fought again.
Eubank jr v Benn is 20/1 in the boxing betting to end as a draw 30 years after the same result between their fathers. That scenario would seem unlikely but it’s not long before we soon find out.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
